Three trains were involved in the accident, two of which collided, Transportation Minister Francisco Garces said on state television. The crash occurred in a tunnel on a train line between Caracas and the suburbs of Los Valles del Tuy.

A train engineer died from his injuries, Deputy Justice Minister Nestor Reverol said.

Garces had said earlier that the engineer who had been at the front of one train was in "delicate" condition.

Most of the injuries to passengers, however, were believed to be minor, Garces said.

One train suddenly braked due to a apparent malfunction, and another train crashed into it from the rear, Garces said. The front train derailed when struck, and another train coming in the opposition direction braked to avoid a collision, he said.